Chapter 70
“St…op.”
The trembling voice of the man reached her ears. She could not feel his warmth or the touch of his skin, but just being able to hold him like this was enough to bring her satisfaction.
When she tightened her arms, refusing to let go, a large hand forcibly pried her arms away. The strength with which he pushed her back was a little rough, and she stumbled a few steps away.
Lynette swallowed hard to suppress the groan that almost burst out reflexively. Her entire body trembled violently. Perhaps because he had used his power too much, even though they had only touched for a short while, the aftereffects accumulated in her body instantly.
“Lynette?”
Noticing her unusual condition, Euphen shot to his feet.
“Let’s… finish it.”
Lynette reached out her hand toward Euphen. In this state, she would end up having to go to Shirin anyway, so wasn’t it better to complete the Guiding here and now?
Her head was spinning. When she closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, the man’s figure blurred before her eyes.
Euphen, standing a few inches away as if he could not bring himself to touch her, looked at her with worry etched across his face.
“Lynette, are you in a lot of pain?”
“I have to go to Miss Shirin.”
“That…”
The man clenched his teeth.
He must have realized he could not simply oppose her blindly.
He knew that if the magic to erase the aftereffects was used, Lynette’s lifespan would be shortened. Yet he also knew he could not leave her like this. Without Shirin’s magic, she would continue to suffer.
“That’s why, please let me finish the Guiding.”
The more Lynette tried to endure as if it were nothing, the more violently her body trembled. In the end, she swayed and her knees buckled.
“Ugh…”
The sharp pain from hitting the floor could not compare to the Guiding.
At her faint groan, Euphen dropped to one knee right before her, biting his lip hard.
“I’ll call someone…”
Breathing raggedly, Lynette reached out her hand. Then she leaned her body against his arm, which hovered awkwardly close yet did not quite touch her.
The pain seeped in, but strangely, she felt relief. She slowly closed her eyes.
This aftereffect was one of the most intense she had ever felt, even compared to what she had endured before her regression.
Back then, she had at least grown accustomed to the pain, but now she had not yet reached that point and could not control her body. She felt cold sweat gradually seeping out of her entire body.
“Lynette.”
As she staggered, no longer able to support her own body, he caught her in haste.
“Haah.. hah…”
Even breathing out was becoming unbearably difficult.
She saw Euphen’s face, close to tears. Yet even amidst that, his own condition looked much better than before, and so she gave a faint smile. With trembling fingers, she gently touched his cheek.
The pain flowing into her from Euphen had lessened, but the pain seeping out from within her body only grew stronger. Strength drained completely from her limbs.
Holding her limp body firmly in his arms, his face stiff, Euphen lifted her up.
“We’ll go to Shirin. Just endure it a little longer.”
She wanted to nod, but even that did not go as she wished.
Still, she was glad he had accepted going to Shirin. Though that woman’s magic shaved away at her lifespan, she could not go on living in such agony forever.
Lynette shut her eyes tightly. Her body swayed lightly. As the cold night wind dried her sweat, she began to feel a chill.
She thought she heard the sound of thuds. Everything felt hazy and distant, then suddenly so near it made her nerves prickle.
She wanted to say she was fine, that he need not worry so much… but even that would not come out as she desired.
By now, she scarcely felt the pain from the Guiding, but neither could she feel his warmth. For such comforting sensation was already drowned beneath the pain that filled her whole body.
“Shirin, Shirin!”
The sound of Euphen pounding on a door rang out. Before long, the voices of the two conversing reached her ears, but she could not make out the words.
Euphen raised his voice. From Shirin’s tone, her displeasure was obvious. She clearly did not like being woken at this hour and ordered to perform magic.
“Leave her be and as soon as the sun rises tomorrow-”
“Do it now. Can’t you see she’s in pain!?”
“Magic isn’t something that can be done just by chanting right away. Preparations are needed.”
“Then prepare them.”
“Others are needed too, and besides…”
As Shirin continued to resist, making excuse after excuse to delay, Euphen clenched his teeth. His arms tightened around Lynette.
Letting out a rough breath, Euphen slowly lowered his head.
“I beg you, Shirin.”
As if even that was not enough, he went down on one knee.
Though Lynette could not fully grasp the situation, she clearly understood one thing… he had lowered even his pride as a Prince.
‘Because of me…’
She bit her lip hard. She hated that Euphen was going this far for her.
As he had said, she would not die from the aftereffects. She could have endured it for a few more hours.
And yet, because of a ‘fake Guide,’ a Prince was kneeling.
Shirin stared at him for a long while, and at last, she took a step back.
“Since you ask so earnestly, I will make preparations.”
Their hour-long argument suddenly seemed pointless, for preparations were finished quickly.
Entering the underground laboratory for the first time, Euphen frowned as he looked around.
In contrast, Lynette felt relieved. At last, she thought, she would be freed from this pain.
“Lay her down in the center.”
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